The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1887-10-22
Hn tlae Rocky Mountains.

IT, at 1880 on special ttAin kindly provided
by the Denver and South Park railroad COM
pany, in charge of General Agent Geo. Ady,
the National Editorial Association excursion
lists were soon approaching the foot hills of
the Rocky mountains
The Louisiana delegation, which now COM
prised, in addition to those already mention
ed, Messrs. J. B. Wilkinson, of the N. y. City
Item, and j. Y. Gilmore, of the New Ibe-
ria Sugar Bowl, was deprived on this
trip of the pleasure of the company of
Gsap. Jastremski and his amiable and accom-
plished wife, who left the same day for home.
Following up the South Platte river, the train
rushed through the stone doorway into the
Platte canon, where the iron road followed in
graceful curves and uick turns the course of
the mountain stream as it made its way from
the fields of eternal snow to the broad plains.
Hundreds of feet above us hung huge masses
of granite, in some places oVerhanglng the
train on which we rode. The canon passed,
the ascent Of the mountains commenced, and
the landscape spread out before the eye is one
of remarkable beauty and variety. The as
pen leaves are taking on their autumnal col
ors, and as the sun throws its beams upon
their varied hues encircled with frame of
living green, and this again surrounded by
the rocks, it makes picture worthy the brush
of master artist. Kenoska, 10, 900 feet above
sea level is reached, and a stop made that all
may alight and take in the grandeur of South
Park, which is spread before them like vast
meadow, 80 miles long and 20 miles wide, dot
ted with ranches and herds of cattle, and
hemmed in on every side by lofty mountains.
Crossing the Park, dinner is eaten at Coiuo,
and again We climb the mountains to Boreas,
IL ,49S above the sea. We now descend the
mountain whose waters fiud their level in the
Pacific ocean. Arriving at Breckenridge
halt of two hours is made to enable the tou-
rists to examine Prof. Carter's museum, the
most extensive aggregation ofstufed animals,
h;r1 atr hn jnl1Di in the fAnna
| more aboard the cars andswe soon reach Gil
max, the apex of Fremont Pass, the modern
mode of travel having enabled US to reach IN
few hours ride from the plains point
which the great 9 Pathfinder" had spent days
and weeks to attain. From this elevation
III 1926 feet-the Mount of the Holy Cross is
discernible. Crossing the headwaters of the
! Arkansas river. we now speed on our way to
| that world-famed mining camp-Leadyil1e,
which we reached soon after dark.
Our experience at Leadvile was not pleas
ant one. Four out of the six remaining mem-
bers of the Louisiana dslegation We're over.
! come by the rarifed atmosphere, which had
| affected them unfaVorably all day, and they
went to bed immediately after their arrival,
completely hors de combat. We understood
the next morning that the mayor and mem
| bers of tho council had offered their services
as an escort to show the members of the
party the town and to entertain them in true
| frontier style, but as We remained with oul
sick -friendo, we really don't know anything
at al.eabout the matter. We only know that
sople Of the party who had never been in 9
| mining camp before reported that they had
seen the elephant in all his magnifcence:
The population of Leadville is about Is, 600
and fris l0, ,2QaSfeet above the sea. 1t first be
came kS5wn TO fame in 1859, as California
Gulch, one of the richest placer camps in Col
orado. From 1853 to 1864 $4,000 600 In goit
dust were washed from the ground OF thi
gulch. The camp was afterwards nearly aban
doned, and it was not until 1876 that the car
bonate beds of silver We're discovered. Imme
diately after this discovery great rush en-
sued to the carbonate camp which was named
Leadville, and the population rose from nom
inal number to 80, 600. Leadville is the thirC
CITY in size in Colorado, and the greatest an
most unique carbonate mining camp in tn
world. The visitor to Leadyille is irreslstibl,
reminded of the words of joaquin Miller
"Colorado, rare Colorado! Yonder she rests
her head Of gold, piilowed on the Rocky Noun
tains, her feet in the brown grass, the bound
! less plains for play ground; she Is set on
hill before the world, and the air is very cleal
SO that all may see her WE'LL The city is light
ed by gas and electricity; has telephone con
) munication with surrounding points and ha
the usual conyeniences aud luxuries of cite
r of corresponding size. 1t is one of the mos
j interesting cities in the world to the touris
f 1t abounds in scenes of q novel and character
istic nature, and presents views of life entire
ly foreign to the conventional. Mining method
are here fully illustrated in every form, frOl
= The scenery around Leadville is magnifcen
II is walled in on all sides by towering moul
tains whose SUBMITS are crowned with etc
G nal snow. Occupying 80 high an altitude, th
{ effect is remarkable, and tourists can flnd 4
, more striking nor interesting scenes tina
, those presented by Leadville and its wier
! and wonderful surroundings.
= Sunday 1nOrnin0 w bid adieu to IIeauylil
' and entering the palatial cars of the Colorad
!. Midland railroad company, the only compan
Q having standard gauge road into the hea
/ of the Rockies, we were soon speeding on OIL
j. journey. Following down the Arkansas va
Il ley to Buena Vista, past deserted pIact
/. mines, the ascent of the mountains was aga
# commenced. Passing over road the gradir
4 of some portions of which cost $75,O00 pt
g mile in as finely equipped cars as are to
II found on any road, one is 10th to believe th;
e he is journeying through the heart Of Il
greatest noun tain range on the continen
But such is the engineering skill of the pr
/. sent generation. Arriving at Idlewild, aft
= crossing South Park, Gen. Pass. Agt, Cha
!. Lee invites the party to fine lunch at I'll
|. icompany's eating house at this very romant
10 and picturesque station. Here the road 9
! ters Eleven Mile Canon and thunderir
Il down the narrow defle through which fioy
!. the south fork of the South Platte river, '
Az pass through tunnels, by cascades, under Owe
. | hanging rocks, and finally emerge into Mar
i tou Park. Here the engineer thought
Il would see how fast he could run. and succee
ed in making over six miles in five minute
Arriving at Cascade canon at about thr
o'clock substantial collation. at the new
: opened hotel was sptsad before the travele
= by the citizens of that delightful wateri
place. An hour or more was spent in wa
. dering about the grounds, visiting the spring
u | and adniring the scenery OF this soon to
. . popular resort which is now in the infancy
=. its existence Reaching Manitou att o'cloe
: Mayor Hubert and committee of cltlzel
y accompanied by the Firensens band OF Co
!. extend the hospitalities Of that world renoN
" ed sanitarinm to the quill drivers and th'
. ladies. CHARTERED at the hotels supper "
- announced for those who wished it; but
| good citizens of Cascade had spoiled m :
4 appetites of all. The managers of the Ma
a ! tou bath houses threw the same open and
i vited all to test the refreshing qualities o
~ mineral bath, and it is needless to say "a
- nearly all availed themselves of the oppori
u nity The plunge bath was taken possess
- - of by the ladies of the party, and from
Il, Il sounds arising therefrom jolly time they
!. of it. Music and speaking were INDUCED
- during the evening and an enjoyable time hl
= = Monday morning was spent in visiting :
III springs and various places OF interest witt
a. close proximity to tho hotels. Shortly al
2 nine o'clock carriages commenced 70 arrive
the Cliff House, and at ten o'clock all are Sc
al ca in comfortable carriages and SC
m is made for that oft read of spot, !
If If & Garden Of the Gods. Each carriage =
81 nroyided with q guide, who cal
he attention to the many points OF mi
"A ast. aBalanced Rock the ssWine Cells
AZ s.Bcn Butler,a and other grotesque sembl
IL ce- are passed, when the portals OF the ran